“And it shall come to pass afterward, that I will pour out my Spirit on all flesh; your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, your old men shall dream dreams, and your young men shall see visions.”
Joel 2:28

Ever feel stuck? Stuck in your faith or circumstances of your life — knowing you’re not where you want to be but not sure where you should be going or how to get there? Do you ever feel like the church is stuck? Stuck in the “same old, same old” ways of doing things that is increasingly irrelevant to the culture around us? I do sometimes. The danger in this attitude is that we can come to a place of thinking “it’s just the way things are, I’d better resign myself and make the best of it.” But feeling stuck does not have to be a negative, for it can also lead to a dissatisfaction which moves us to seek God for change, growth and a new future.

This familiar verse from the prophet Joel looked to a day when God’s Spirit would be poured out on all His people. Joel foretold a day of “prophecy, dreams and visions,” a day when God’s people would be empowered to see beyond the present (which was pretty grim) to a future of God at work in a new way. The common thread of “prophecy, dreams and visions” is an orientation toward the future. They do not remain focused on the present, but set God’s people free to look with hope and expectation to God’s activity in establishing His kingly rule in the hearts of his people, and ultimately in all creation. Old and young, men and women are opened to a new future through the dreams and visions God pours into their hearts and minds.

Becoming “unstuck” requires a vision of a better future. The steps along the way to the “new” are often small and incremental, but a God-inspired vision of a new reality can give us encouragement and courage to move out of old patterns and habits. When you think about it, that’s what we’re asking when we pray “Your Kingdom come, Your will be done.” We’re asking that the newness of God’s reign and purpose would break into every part of our lives, church, community and world. And that begins as God imparts a new vision of His Kingdom in our midst.

Are you stuck? Maybe it’s time to seek a new dream. I’m not talking about coming up with something that simply reflects your own desires, but seeking God in prayer and the Word for a revelation of His plans and purposes. It might mean praying: “Lord, give me a vision of your Kingdom alive in the next chapter of my life.” “Help me to know your vision for my family…or my vocation.” “Lord, let me dream of what this church can become for your glory.”

God wants His people to become “unstuck” and will begin to do that as we seek Him for new vision for our lives and our life together. May it be so.

Grace and Peace,
Steve